Ready For Unsteady

Preparing for Extreme Cold Weather

Prepare Your Home

Insulate: Ensure proper insulation in your attic, walls, and basement.
Seal: Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows to prevent drafts.
Heat sources: Have a backup heating source like a fireplace or wood stove, and ensure it's properly maintained.
Pipes: Insulate exposed pipes and let faucets drip slightly during extreme cold to prevent freezing.
Outdoor Water Sources: Ensure outdoor hoses are turned off and emptied to prevent ice expansion damaging equipment. If you have a shutoff from within the house, turn it off and drain any external pipes.
Emergency kit: Assemble a home emergency kit with supplies like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid kit, and a battery-powered radio

Personal Preparedness

Warm clothing: Stock up on warm clothing, including layers, hats, gloves, and sturdy boots.
Emergency kit: Have a personal emergency kit with essentials like a flashlight, batteries, first aid supplies, and warm clothing.
Medication: Ensure you have enough medication on hand.
Communication: Keep your cell phone charged and have a backup charging method.
Emergency plan: Discuss emergency plans with your family, including evacuation routes and meeting points.

Vehicle Preparedness

Winter tires: Consider investing in winter tires for better traction.
Emergency kit: Keep a car emergency kit with blankets, jumper cables, shovel, ice scraper, and non-perishable food.
Fuel: Keep your gas tank at least half full.
Maintenance: Ensure your car is in good condition, with antifreeze, windshield wipers, and heater working properly.

General Tips

Stay informed: Monitor weather forecasts and follow local advisories.
Check on neighbors: Keep an eye on elderly or vulnerable neighbors.
Carbon monoxide: Be cautious of using alternative heat sources like generators or grills indoors, as they can produce carbon monoxide.
Outdoor safety: Limit outdoor exposure, dress warmly in layers, and be aware of signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Keeping Warm

Layer up: Wear multiple layers of warm clothing, including hats, gloves, and socks.
Insulate: Use blankets, sleeping bags, and towels to block drafts and retain heat.
Centralize: Gather everyone in one room to share body heat.
Alternative heat sources: If necessary and safe, use a fireplace or wood stove. However, never use a gas stove or oven for heating.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Generator safety: If using a generator, always operate it outdoors and away from windows. Carbon monoxide is deadly.
Fireplace and stove safety: Ensure proper ventilation when using fireplaces or wood stoves.
Monitor alarms: Keep carbon monoxide detectors working and batteries fresh
Vehicle Exhaust: Ensure your car's exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow. Running the engine in a closed garage or enclosed space can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Protect Your Home

Prevent pipe freezing: Let faucets drip slightly to maintain water flow and prevent pipes from freezing.
Conserve water: Limit water usage to prevent strain on the plumbing system.
Food safety: If the power outage is prolonged, discard perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than two hours.

Other Safety Tips

Stay Informed: Keep a battery or crank-powered radio to ensure you can receive weather updates.
Candles: Use flashlights instead of candles to prevent fires. If you must, avoid scented candles as they'll quickly overwhelm the house if used for long periods.
Emergency kit: Have a well-stocked emergency kit with supplies like water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, and warm clothing.